Robbery suspect captured after short chase

Christopher Renfrow, 36.

A 36-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after he led police on a chase the day after he allegedly stole items from Home Depot and swung a hammer at a loss prevention officer trying to stop him.

At around 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 29, Christopher Renfrow, 36, was identified as the man who took several items from the Hatch Road store and was confronted by the store employee in the parking lot. Police Sgt. Greg Yotsuya said Renfrow was loading the stolen merchandise into a stolen gray-colored 1994 Chevy Silverado. The loss prevention officer began snapping photos of Renfrow in the act, which prompted Renfrow to move toward him and threatened him with a hammer which he also stole from the store. Renfrow then hopped into the pickup and fled the area before police arrived.

The next day, a citizen reported seeing Renfrow stealing from Rancho San Miguel Market. The citizen followed Renfrow and notified a Ceres Police Officer who was in the area. Police found Renfrow driving the stolen Chevy and attempted a traffic stop but Renfrow led police on a vehicle pursuit. At one point during the pursuit Renfrow attempted to hit a patrol vehicle with the officer swerving to avoid a head-on collision. Renfrow continued going but eventually stopped his vehicle at the Voyager's Cove Mobile Home Park where he ran from the truck. Moments later Ceres Police took Renfrow into custody.

Inside the pickup police recovered stolen property and a small amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Renfrow was booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, possession of stolen property, evading police, vehicle theft, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He is being held in the Stanislaus County Jail on $100,000 bail.